Emergency light device

• US 6,336,729 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Freedman, Richard Pavelle, Sol Aisenberg, Zeʼev, Hed A.
• Original Assignee: George Freedman, Richard Pavelle, Sol Aisenberg, Zeʼev, Hed A.
• Inventors: Aisenberg, Sol, Pavelle, Richard, Freedman, George, Zeʼev, Hed A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAWHNEY, HARGOBIND S
• Application Number:
  US09/511,479
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 362/34, 362/84, 362/155, 362/154, 362/200, 362/208, 362/226, 362/204, 362/190, 362/191, 340/331, 340/332
• US Class Current: 362/34
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/0057 Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmission specially adapted for machines or pumps brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/0084 Brakes, braking assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/104 having an articulated driving shaft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A lighting system includes a base, and a cover pivotally connected to the base. In one embodiment, a portable flashlight is supported within a holder fixed to the base. The flashlight includes a housing enclosing a light bulb, a battery, and an electrical circuit electrically interconnecting the light bulb and the battery. The circuit includes a pair of contacts, which are normally biased together to complete the circuit between the battery and light bulb. An insulating member is interposed between the contacts when the flashlight is primed, and becomes fixed to the cover when the cover is closed. When the cover is then opened, the insulating member is removed from between the contacts, which illuminates the flashlight. According to a further embodiment, a chemiluminescent stick is supported within the holder. A break bar pivotally connected to the cover is initially in a vertical orientation, and temporarily retained by a latch to allow insertion of the light stick in the holder and closure of the cover. When the cover is closed, the latch is released, which allows the break bar to move behind the light stick, in a horizontal orientation. When the cover is then opened, the break bar engages the light stick, and bends the light stick forward around an edge to illuminate the light stick. In either embodiment, the illuminated flashlight or light stick can be easily removed from the holder to illuminate the surrounding area and facilitate exiting a facility.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

(1) a base plate, and a cover connected to the base plate which together with the base plate defines an enclosure when the cover is in a closed position, said cover moveable away from the base plate to an open position;

(2) a portable light device removably supported with the enclosure, the light device including a light bulb, a source of power for the light device and an electrical circuit interconnecting the light bulb and the source of power, said base plate including a holder supporting said light device and allowing the light device to be removed when the cover is in the open position, said cover including a fastener device connected thereto, and said light device including a circuit interruption device interrupting the electrical circuit and maintaining the circuit in an open condition and the light device in a non-illuminated condition, the fastener device and circuit interrupting device cooperating when the cover is moved to an open position such that the circuit interrupting device is moved out of interruption with the electrical circuit to allow the electrical connection between the light device and the source of power to close and the light device to illuminate such that the illuminated light device can be removed from the enclosure.

2. The lighting system as in claim 1, wherein the light device comprises a flashlight, said flashlight including a bulb and at least one battery interconnected by the electrical circuit, said circuit interrupting device including an insulating member which physically separates a pair of normally-closed contacts within the electrical circuit, and is removed from between the contacts by the cooperation with the fastener device to allow closure of the contacts when the cover is in the open position.

3. The lighting system as in claim 2, wherein said flashlight includes a housing, and an opening is formed in the housing at a location such that said insulating member is removed through the opening when the cover is opened.

4. The lighting system as in claim 3, wherein the path between the opening in the housing and the pair of contacts is a convoluted path, which prevents the insulating member from being reinserted through the opening and between the pair of contacts after the insulating member is removed.

5. The lighting system as in claim 2, wherein the fastener device is fixedly attached to the cover, the fastener device normally being a separate component from the insulating member, and becoming fixedly connected to the insulating member when the cover is closed, such that the fastener device draws the insulating member out from between the electrical contacts when the cover is moved to the open position.

6. The lighting system as in claim 1, wherein said cover is pivotally connected to the base plate.

7. The lighting system as in claim 1, further including a closure prevention device which prevents the cover from being moved back to the closed position after the cover is moved to the open position.

8. The lighting system as in claim 7, wherein said closure prevention device includes a rod fixed to the cover, and a button supported by the base, said rod and base cooperating when the cover is in the closed position to retain the button in a first position, and said rod moveable when the cover is moved to the open position to allow the button to move to a second, blocking position, said rod engaging the button when the cover is then closed to prevent the cover from being fully closed.

9. The lighting system as in claim 8, further including a normally inaccessible chamber, said chamber being accessible to allow manual access to the button to force the button into the first position and allow the cover the be fully closed.

17. The lighting system as in claim 8, further including a latch retaining the break bar in the second position, said latch being manually manipulable to allow the break bar to move into the first position.

10. A portable flashlight including a housing having an opening, the housing enclosing a light bulb, a source of power for the light bulb and an electrical circuit interconnecting the light bulb and the source of power, said electrical circuit including a pair of contacts normally biased into electrically-closed condition with one another to complete the circuit between the light bulb and the source of power, a flexible insulating member interposed between the pair of contacts to separate the contacts and interrupt the circuit between the light bulb and the source of power, said insulating member having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly through the opening in the housing, wherein the insulating member prevents illumination of the flashlight when interposed between the contacts, and is removable from between the contacts by pulling on the externally accessible portion, and when removed, allowing the contacts to come into contact with one another to illuminate the flashlight.

11. The portable flashlight as in claim 10, wherein the pair of contacts in the electrical circuit comprises a pairs of spring fingers.

12. The portable flashlights in claim 10, wherein the externally accessible portion of the insulating member terminates in an actuating button having means for attachment to an external member.

13. The portable flashlight as in claim 10, wherein the insulating member comprises a strip or cord.

14. A portable flashlight including a housing having an opening, the housing enclosing a light bulb, a source of power for the light bulb and an electrical circuit interconnecting the light bulb and the source of power, said electrical circuit including a pair of contacts normally biased into electrically-closed condition with one another to complete the circuit between the light bulb and the source of power, an insulating member interposed between the pair of contacts to separate the contacts and interrupt the circuit between the light bulb and the source of power, said insulating member having an externally-accessible portion extending outwardly through the opening in the housing, wherein the insulating member prevents illumination of the flashlight when interposed between the contacts, and is removable from between the contacts by pulling on the externally accessible portion, and when removed, allowing the contacts to come into contact with one another to illuminate the flashlight, wherein the path between the opening in the housing and the pair of contacts is a convoluted path, which prevents the insulating member from being reinserted through the opening and between the pair of contacts after the insulating member is removed.

15. A lighting system, comprising:

a base plate, and the cover connected to the base plate and which together with the base plate defines an enclosure when the cover is in a closed position, said cover movable away from the base plate to an open position to allow access to the enclosure; and

a light stick removably supported within a holder in the enclosure, the enclosure including a break bar moveably mounted to the cover, said break bar moveable into a first position where the break bar interferes with the light stick when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position to thereby bend the light stick around an edge of the holder, rupture an internal membrane in the light stick, and cause the light stick to illuminate, said break bar moveable into a second position allowing the cover to be moved from an open position to a closed position where the break bar does not interfere with the light stick.

16. The lighting system as in claim 15, wherein said cover is pivotally attached to the base plate, and said breaker bar is pivotally attached to the cover.

18. The lighting system as in claim 15 wherein said cover is pivotally connected to the base plate.

19. The lighting system as in claim 15 further including a closure prevention device which prevents the cover from being moved back to the closed position after the cover is moved to the open position.

20. The lighting system as in claim 19, wherein said closure prevention device includes a rod fixed to the cover, and a button supported by the base, said rod and base cooperating when the cover is in the closed position to retain the button in a first position, and said rod moveable when the cover is moved to the open position to allow the button to move to a second, blocking position, said rod engaging the button when the cover is then closed to prevent the cover from being fully closed.

21. The lighting system as in claim 20 further including a normally inaccessible chamber, said chamber being accessible to allow manual access to the button to force the button into the first position and allow the cover to be fully closed.

22. A lighting system, comprising:

(i) a base plate, and a cover connected to the base plate which together with the base plate defines an enclosure when the cover is in a closed position, said cover moveable away from the base plate to an open position;

(ii) a portable light device removably supported with the enclosure normally in a non-illuminated condition, said base plate supporting said light device when the cover is in the closed position and allowing the light device to be removed when the cover is in the open position, said cover including an activating assembly, the activating assembly cooperating with the light device to illuminate the light device when the cover is opened so that the illuminated light device can be removed from the enclosure; and

(iii) a device for preventing the cover from being fully closed after the cover is opened.

23. The lighting system as in claim 22 further including a chamber in the enclosure separate from the light device, said closure preventing device disposed in the chamber, and a door covering an opening to the chamber, said door being openable to permit access to the closure preventing device in the chamber.

24. The lighting system as in claim 23, wherein said cover is pivotally attached to the base plate, and said activating assembly is attached to the cover.

25. The lighting system as in claim 24 wherein said closure preventing device includes a rod connected to the cover and projecting into the chamber, said rod pivoting around a pivot axis when the cover is opened, said rod cooperating with a spring-biased button disposed in said chamber, said button preventing said cover from being fully closed when said cover is moved into the position, and wherein said button can be manually manipulated by access through said door to allow said cover to be fully closed.